schoolsbycounty

Wexford County Schools & Education

School Score

12/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

76.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

76.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 82.5%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,112

National avg $13,239

State avg $7,394

School Score

12/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 35/100

State Score Position

#79

of 83 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Wexford County

Measured School Summary

Wexford County faces educational challenges with a school score of 12/100 and a graduation rate of 76.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,112 per pupil, Wexford County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 67% below the Michigan average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 6.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 17% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Wexford County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

15 public schools and 6 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

12/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #79 of 83 Michigan counties with school score data.

Completion

76.2%

6.3 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,112

$1,282 below the state average

School coverage

15

6 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Wexford County has 15 public schools across 6 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Wexford County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Review-carefully county

Wexford County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.

State position

#79

of 83 Michigan counties with school score data. The county score is 23 points below the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Cadillac Area Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

3,158 students

Elementary 3Middle 1High 2Other 0

6 listed schools in this county slice.

Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan

Other grade structure

2,308 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

Manton Consolidated Schools

Elementary to high school visible

956 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Mesick Consolidated Schools

Elementary and high visible

563 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Cadillac Area Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 6 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Wexford County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Wexford County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Wexford County, Michigan

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Focused Rural Education Infrastructure

Wexford County supports 7,536 students across 15 public schools and six distinct districts. This rural system includes five elementary and five high schools, offering a concentrated academic network for the community.

Navigating Challenges in Graduation and Funding

The county currently sees a 76.2% graduation rate, which is below the Michigan state average of 82.5%. Per-pupil spending stands at $6,112, reflecting a lower investment level than the state average of $7,394 and the national $13,000 benchmark.

Cadillac Schools Lead the Local Districts

Cadillac Area Public Schools is the dominant traditional district with 3,158 students across six schools. Interestingly, the Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan is the only charter in the county but serves as the largest individual school with 2,308 students.

Rural Settings with Growing School Sizes

Wexford's educational environment is primarily rural, with 11 of its 15 schools located in countryside settings. The average school size of 538 students is influenced by the large virtual academy, though traditional sites like Cadillac Senior High serve 907 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

15

in Wexford County

Reported Enrollment

7,536

15 schools reporting

School Districts

6

districts

Charter Schools

1

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary5
Middle2
High5
Other3

6 School Districts in Wexford County

Cadillac Area Public Schools

6 schools
3,158 students

Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan

1 school
2,308 students

Manton Consolidated Schools

3 schools
956 students

Mesick Consolidated Schools

2 schools
563 students

Buckley Community Schools

1 school
478 students

Wexford-Missaukee ISD

2 schools
73 students

15 Public Schools in Wexford County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 15 of 15 matching schools

Highpoint Virtual Academy of MIchigan

Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan

Mesick, 49668 / Rural: Remote

ProfileKG–12Charter2,308 students

Cadillac Senior High School

Cadillac Area Public Schools

CADILLAC, 49601 / Town: Remote

Record9–12High907 students

Mackinaw Trail Middle School

Cadillac Area Public Schools

CADILLAC, 49601 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle750 students

Franklin Elementary School

Cadillac Area Public Schools

CADILLAC, 49601 / Town: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary606 students

Lincoln Elementary School

Cadillac Area Public Schools

CADILLAC, 49601 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary511 students

Buckley Community Schools

Buckley Community Schools

BUCKLEY, 49620 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–12Other478 students

Manton Consolidated Elem School

Manton Consolidated Schools

MANTON, 49663 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary367 students

Manton Consolidated Middle School

Manton Consolidated Schools

MANTON, 49663 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle304 students

Mesick Consolidated JrSr High School

Mesick Consolidated Schools

Mesick, 49668 / Rural: Remote

Record6–12High301 students

Manton Consolidated High School

Manton Consolidated Schools

MANTON, 49663 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High285 students

Floyd M Jewett Elem School

Mesick Consolidated Schools

Mesick, 49668 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary262 students

Forest View Elementary School

Cadillac Area Public Schools

BOON, 49618 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary232 students

Cadillac Innovation High School

Cadillac Area Public Schools

CADILLAC, 49601 / Town: Remote

Record9–12Alternative152 students

WexfordMissaukee ISD Special Education

Wexford-Missaukee ISD

CADILLAC, 49601 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–12Special Education73 students

WexfordMissaukee ISD Career Center

Wexford-Missaukee ISD

CADILLAC, 49601 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12Vocational0 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,112

State avg $7,394

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Wexford County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which Michigan counties have the highest graduation rates?
Alcona County (95.0%), Alger County (95.0%), and Schoolcraft County (95.0%) currently lead Michigan among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Michigan?
Across Michigan counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $7,394. The highest current county values are Keweenaw County ($18,000), Lake County ($10,369), and Leelanau County ($9,877). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Wexford County?
Wexford County has a school score of 12/100, which is a lower measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Wexford County?
The high school graduation rate in Wexford County is 76.2%, which is below the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Wexford County spend per student?
Wexford County spends $6,112 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Wexford County, Michigan — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Wexford County, Michigan?

Wexford County supports 7,536 students across 15 public schools and six distinct districts. This rural system includes five elementary and five high schools, offering a concentrated academic network for the community.

How do schools in Wexford County perform academically?

The county currently sees a 76.2% graduation rate, which is below the Michigan state average of 82.5%. Per-pupil spending stands at $6,112, reflecting a lower investment level than the state average of $7,394 and the national $13,000 benchmark.

What are the major school districts in Wexford County, Michigan?

Cadillac Area Public Schools is the dominant traditional district with 3,158 students across six schools. Interestingly, the Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan is the only charter in the county but serves as the largest individual school with 2,308 students.

What is the school experience like in Wexford County?

Wexford's educational environment is primarily rural, with 11 of its 15 schools located in countryside settings. The average school size of 538 students is influenced by the large virtual academy, though traditional sites like Cadillac Senior High serve 907 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.